Mumbai(PTI): Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday hit out at Raj Thackeray for demanding that loudspeakers on mosques shut down, saying the MNS chief's speech was "scripted and sponsored" by BJP.

Speaking at a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Saturday, Raj Thackeray demanded that if the playing of loudspeakers in mosques at high volume is not stopped, there will be speakers outside mosques playing Hanuman Chalisa at a higher volume.

"It is clear that the (speech of) the loudspeaker blaring at the Shivaji Park yesterday was scripted and sponsored by BJP," Raut told reporters here in an apparent reference to the MNS chief.

Raut criticised the MNS president for his remarks that Shiv Sena remembered the assurance of rotational chief ministership only after the 2019 results, which was a mandate for the Sena-BJP alliance and not for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

"I wonder why some people get their wisdom tooth so late. Governments are formed on majority numbers in legislature. These numbers were with the MVA. The MVA alliance government had been formed to teach liars a lesson and to provide stability to the state," Raut said.

He said that no third person should poke his nose into what transpired between the Sena and the BJP in 2019 before the formation of the MVA government.

The Sena chief spokesperson wondered if 'Azan' on loudspeakers has been stopped in BJP-ruled states.

"The rule of law prevails in Maharashtra," he said.

Raut also slammed the MNS chief for his remarks that NCP president Sharad Pawar plays a caste card and "divides society".

"You used to sit at Pawar's feet to seek his guidance till recently. Why should you speak on towering personalities like Pawar," Raut said.

Raj Thackeray had also taken potshots at Maharashtra Chief Minister and his estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray, whose party, the Shiv Sena, fell out with the BJP in 2019 over the chief minister's post.

Raut said the Sena won't pay attention to such talks because the party's agenda is to ensure the development of Maharashtra and also hoist its saffron flag across the state.

NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase on Sunday said the MNS was the BJP 's new "B team" for splitting votes in the upcoming civic elections. He called Raj Thackeray a good mimicry artist.

In the last two years, the MVA government successfully tackled all the challenges including the pandemic, he said.

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Varanasi: Comedian Shyam Rangeela has finally filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from the Varanasi parliamentary constituency on Tuesday, May 14, the last day of filing papers.

Rangeela, who intended to contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi had alleged on Monday that he was being denied a nomination from the seat, as he along with several other candidates were reportedly made to wait for filling papers on May 10th and May 13th.

Shyam Rangeela, taking to his official ‘X’ handle, wrote, "With your love and support, I have completed all the requirements as per the rules and submitted the nomination. I also have full faith in the democracy of this country. Now the next two-three days are crucial. Thank you all very much for your cooperation. My electoral future rests in the hands of all election officials who are the custodians of our democracy. With the hope that they all strengthen our faith, Yours Shyam Rangeela.”

Alongside, Shyam, BJP candidate Narendra Modi, Log Party's Vinay Kumar Tripathi, BJP's Surendra Narayan Singh, independent candidates Dinesh Kumar Yadav, Reena Rai, Neha Jaiswal, Ajit Kumar Jaiswal, Ashok Kumar Pandey, Sandeep Tripathi filed their nomination papers on Tuesday.

According to the Election Commision of India, a total of 41 candidates have filed nomination papers from the Varanasi constituency.